Thet Great feeling is "Back" somehow...

This fixture sure brought back a bit of nostalgic feel at the Jalan Besar.

Media workers from both sides of the Causeway mingled with each other, setting up their props and exchanging views and pointers about the both teams.

The pitch has been playing the "lead actor" whenever a fixture is staged here, though one prominent figure in the local football brushed off the suggestion that the artificial turf had been the deciding factor.

Pretty controversial towards the end as Perlis disputed the Young Lions' winning goal but the match officials stood firm on their decision. (This of course irked the visiting Perlis supporters who targeted the officials with those “colourful” languages.)

Nonetheless, the hosts maintained their composure to hold their guests at bay, despite conceded a penalty in dying minutes, which was well saved ‘keeper Fadhil Salim.

Young Lions coach Fandi Ahmad talks to the press

Perlis fans made their presence felt with their cheers and (jeers)

This match was live telecasted on Malaysia's TV3

A chat with the cabby...

I boarded a cab on my way to Choa Chu Kang Stadium on the other day (as I was rushing for time).

"So why are you heading there (to the stadium)?" asked the friendly taxi driver, as he begun this conversation to kick start the journey.

"I'm there for a game" I replied

"Ah.. I see, the last time, l was there for one of the election rallies, hahaha" joked the cabbie.

"So, is there a match going on?" asked this cabbie

"Yes, there is, it's between SAF and Balestier" l said.

"Oh OK.. you see, I used to watch a few games at the beginning, with my son, who was young at that time " as we drove along BKE after exit from PIE (if I didn't mixed up the names of the expressways)

"Back then, the crowd were passionate as there was no gambling (the legalized betting) involved but nowdays it seems that there are more punters than real fans at the stadium" commented the taxi driver.

Agreed with that point (as referred to my earlier post "Some of the You and me at the stands ").

"So how much we need to pay to see the game?" the cabby enquired

"Well, it's five dollars, while at The Young Lions' home game at Jalan Besar, school-going kids is free admission " I replied (P.s: Please correct me if I'm wrong about this fact.)

"What? Young Lions play at Jalan Besar!" the cabby sounded surprised when I told him that.

"So Fandi still the coach of SAFFC?" that's probably the last main question he asked before I alighted at the entrance of the basement car park of the stadium.

"Nope, he's with the Young Lions now." I said, before handed over my fare to him.

It looked as if it's a normal chat but it still highlighted a nagging problem - the lack of awareness among some Singaporean football fans, towards the S.League.

Thank you, Geylang

It was said that when a team don't perform well in one campaign, doesn't mean they can't in another.

Take the case of Geylang United.

Struggled at the bottom end of the table currently (to be precise, they are one spot above wooden spoonists Sengkang Punggol), nobody give them a chance at all to the Eagles when they turned out at Jurong East earlier this evening.

With the sky looked really that gloomy before the start of the game, one really fear if the Eagles can sustain the potential onslaught from their host, after all, the Jurong East stadium had not been a happy hunting ground for the Geylang Eagles.

Geylang was the first team to pay the visit to Albirex's maiden home game years ago.

Then, the men in green thought they had the game wrapped up, only to see the Japanese came back strongly and reversed the tie to thrash them heavily.

Fortunately, for the fans who turned out at the ground, they were given a feast of entertaining football, probably the best match of the season so far.

Sad to say that, despite the brave effort by the Eagles, they still crashed out of the Singapore Cup.

However, the gusty display and the tactical switch of Geylang shown in this game, could signaled better to come that will help them out of the pit bottom.

Once again, thank you Geylang - for the effort put in.

Xenophobia am I??

Happen to pick up a copy of the Straits Times today.

Saw an unpretty sight when I noticed the picture of Chelsea's midfielder Frank Lampard on the frontpage of the national broadsheet.

One question came to my mind - Does this concern us?

Xenophobic - some of you guys might think of me

I don't blame you guys for thinking that but to have this piece of news placed on this national broadcast must be something that is not appropriate as once again had made us look as if we are living in the past (as a British colony), with the news of who going to be crowned as the EPL champions being something that is utmost important.

So Sad...

Never wash your dirty linens in the public

There's always a saying "Never wash your dirty linens in the public".

Somehow or rather, a fit of anger by Englishman Peter Butler, the SAFFC's coach, was captured and placed on the backpages of TODAY, the ONLY English paper in this country that covers S.League's news on REGULAR basis.

In that photo, it pictured the former West Ham midfielder shown a well-recognized rude gesture to his charges after their win over Balestier Khalsa.

Picture tells a thousand words as judging from the expressions of the weary-looking Warriors, one could easily sums up the mood that night.

Personally, I felt that the rude gesture by Butler, is something that is uncalled for, especially in the public places.

Though I have not say or in a position to comment on how the coaching is to be done but I did remembered one thing I learned from Steve Darby, the former Home United coach (now with Perak).

"Those who know me personally, know that I will NEVER criticize my players OPENLY!" said the one-time ESPN's EPL pundit, while placing his arm right over my shoulders when enquired how would he dealt with his 'keeper Sean Roberts who fumbled a shot and conceded a silly goal in their match against Sinchi, years back.

I came to know that Darby is someone who is fiercely loyal to his men, never once had he uttered something negative about his players openly.

That's probably why the respect shown to him by his players is there (if I'm not wrong, the Protectors after their last season Cup victory, had organized a farewell lunch for him as a form of appreciation.)

It is common to see teams conducted their pep talks after the games but never once I saw a coach ever made such a rude gesture in front of so many people.

It must be pretty humiliating for the guys who slogged and came from a one goal to win the game.

Maybe, like what team manager LTC Kok Wai Leong said the team did not play up to Butler's expectation, still that middle finger shall not be shown at all.